Injured in riots in Ankara exceed 380 people in total

As a result of aggressive actions have been destroyed, burned or broken 132 public and private offices, 71 bank branches, 74 private and police vehicles

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EPA/ITAR-TASS

ANKARA, June 18. /ITAR-TASS reporter Kirill Zharov /. Ankara Governor's Office today announced the details of the damage caused to the capital during the riots provoked by marginal elements, and the number of victims. Of the more than 380 people injured in the clashes, four are still in hospitals.

Instability in the capital began to gain momentum after May 31, when police broke up a peaceful demonstration in Istanbul Gezi Park. On the streets of Ankara in solidarity gathered thousands of people, among whom there were provocateurs. “As a result of aggressive actions have been destroyed, burned or broken 132 public and private offices, 71 bank branches, 74 private and police vehicles, 30 municipal buses, 117 advertising structures and bus stops,” according to the governor's administration.

Authorities also continue to study records from external observation cameras and clashes filming in order to identify the instigators and rioters.” To date, 944 people have been detained. Those responsible for the very near future will face the law,” is said in the statement. These 944 people were arrested within all the days of the protests, most of them were immediately released after testifying.

Among the detained were foreigners, mainly from Europe and Iran. In Istanbul there were also arrested several foreign press photographers who were released after investigation.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs told ITAR-TASS that “generally the situation gets normalized”. There are talks that thousands of residents of the province are set to come to the capital to support the protests. “We have no such information. We are very upset about what is happening, these provocations, but the security forces are taking effective and prudent steps to reduce tensions,” a spokesperson of the Ministry of Internal Affairs said.

The normalization, which, was expected to come with the start of working days, is noticeable due to the reduction in the number of police officers on the streets and the amount of special equipment. Except for isolated local incidents in Ankara, Istanbul and other cities where the police had to use water cannons and gas against demonstrators last night was very calm.

Under the influence of social networks the public began to join a new kind of peaceful actions of disobedience. In Istanbul and Ankara people staged a "standing objection" inspired by one person that was standing motionless for some hours in the center of Taksim. At night, in many cities across the country, hundreds of people froze in silence on the streets and squares. This at first glance insignificant action, however, is widely debated. It has formed a new direction in the protest movement, which has strong propagandistic effect.